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The differences between process improvement consultants and associate consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a process improvement consultant and an associate consultant. Additionally, a process improvement consultant has an average salary of $88,903, which is higher than the $73,340 average annual salary of an associate consultant.
The top three skills for a process improvement consultant include lean six sigma, project management and healthcare. The most important skills for an associate consultant are healthcare, customer service, and project management.
| Process Improvement Consultant | Associate Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $88,903 | $73,340 |
| Hourly rate | $42.74 | $35.26 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 86,144 | 94,983 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A process improvement consultant is responsible for evaluating the current operational processes, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, and developing strategic techniques to improve procedures, increasing maximum productivity with a cost-reduction approach. Process improvement consultants analyze the project management policies of the department, facilitate process training for the employees, and search for business opportunities that would generate more resources for revenues and profits. They write progress update reports and discuss with management, as well as present data analysis findings from the company's market performance.
An associate consultant is responsible for evaluating the project requirements based on clients' specifications, ensuring that the team meets project deliverables efficiently. Associate consultants test system applications and network infrastructure to recommend possible modifications for optimal performance and flawless navigation. They also identify cost-efficient business opportunities to gain more clients and improve overall project management procedures. An associate consultant may also facilitate training programs for the staff to maximize their productivity and hone their potential.
Process improvement consultants and associate consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Process Improvement Consultant | Associate Consultant | |
| Average salary | $88,903 | $73,340 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $118,000 | Between $60,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Texas | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Pacific Gas and Electric | Practice Fusion |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a process improvement consultant and an associate consultant in terms of educational background:
| Process Improvement Consultant | Associate Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between process improvement consultants' and associate consultants' demographics:
| Process Improvement Consultant | Associate Consultant | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% | Male, 55.5% Female, 44.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 14.3% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |